Alex & Fez

Issue 3

1. The cover. Alex, Fez and Grandad, a grey-haired man in glasses and a red checked shirt, smile out from the basket of a hot air balloon. The title reads 'The tales of Alex & Fez #3, by Paul Spencer'.
1. The introduction page, over a dark mountain range. Narration: “The 24 Hour Comic Book Challenge.” Narration: ““24-Hour Comics Day” is an event held around the world which challenges writers and artists to create a full 24-page comic in 24 consecutive hours. Thousands of artists participate in the challenge every year and the comic you’re currently holding is the final product from the challenge that I participated in during 2013.” Narration: “Each year, a theme is given on the day, which is encouraged to be worked into the comic; this ensures that the story has had no preparation preceding the 24 hour stint. This year, we were assigned three random words, in which to incorporate into the comic; my words were ‘balloon’, ‘rhythm’ and ‘capsicum’.” Narration: “In the past, incorporating the ideas hadn’t really been a hindrance, but this year I found the three words very difficult to weave into a story that my characters fit inside of, particularly the word ‘capsicum’. Eventually I connected the problematic dots and began drawing the issue. What eventually came together was a story I hadn’t expected to tell. It became a story that was sort of sad, but also a little bit sweet. Even the problematic word ‘capsicum’ wove into the theme in a way that surprised me.” Narration: “I hope you enjoy this comic book, I had a blast making it. Until issue four, Paul Spencer.”
1. A wide valley with a river winding between forested hills.
2. Alex scrambles over a huge fallen log.
3. Alex stands on top of the log, looking at something in his hand.
4. Close up of an old photo in Alex's hand: Grandad sits in a rocking chair with a young Alex on his knee.
5. Close up of Alex, troubled.
6. Alex jumps down off the log and runs on. Alex thinks: “Is Grandad ok?”
1. Earlier, in a hospital waiting room. A doctor crouches to talk to Alex, who sits on a chair. His parents stand behind, in silhouette. Doctor: “That's what I need to talk to your parents about.” Dad: “Wait here Alex, we won't be long.”
2. The doctor hangs a stethoscope around Alex's neck. Alex smiles. Doctor: “In the meantime, you can have fun with these.”
3. The doctor shows Mum and Dad into his office.
4. Alex listens to his own heartbeat through the stethoscope. Sound effect: Bum bum, bum bum
5. Alex moves the stethoscope, listening. Sound effect: Bum bum, bum bum
1. Alex looks down the corridor towards the office window, his heartbeat in his ears. Sound effect: Bum bum, bum bum, bum bum
2. Through the office glass, Mum and Dad listen to the doctor. Sound effect: Bum bum, bum bum
3. Through the glass, Mum buries her face in Dad's chest as he holds her. Sound effect: Bum bum, bum bum
4. The row of waiting room chairs, now empty, with the stethoscope left on one.
5. Close up of the abandoned stethoscope.
1. Alex's hand clutches the photo of Grandad.
2. Alex with a strong stride, the photo in his fist. There's tree's in the background.
3. Alex runs through a tall, shadowy forest.
4. Alex hops across stepping stones in a rushing river.
5. Alex's hand reaches out into a blinding light through the trees.
1. In a sunlit forest clearing, Alex waves both arms. Fez, in the foreground, hauls on a rope tied to a big wooden basket. Alex shouts: “Fez!”
1. Fez lets go of the rope and throws his arms up in greeting; his screen reads 'Yo!'. Fez: “Yo!”
2. The rope snaps loose and the deflated balloon crashes down beside the basket. Sound effect: Smash
3. Fez scratches his head sheepishly; his screen reads 'oops...'. Fez: “Oops...”
4. Alex kneels by his backpack and pulls out a toaster. Alex: “I brought this toaster, so you can finish it.”
5. Fez throws his arms up; his screen reads 'Awesome!'. Fez: “Awesome!”
1. Fez holds the toaster, tongue out in concentration.
2. Fez welds the toaster with sparks flying. Sound effect: Zap zap zap zap
3. Under the inflated balloon, Alex leaps into the basket where Fez has fixed the toaster as a burner. Alex: “Let's do this!”
1. The patched red balloon begins to rise up behind the bushes. Sound effect: Rustle rustle
2. The balloon swells up full, covered in rope netting.
3. The balloon soars over the green countryside as Alex leans out of the basket, punching the air. Alex shouts: “Yeah! This is so cool!”
1. The balloon floats high in a bright sky among the clouds.
2. Fez shrugs; his screen reads 'Where to?'. Fez: “Where to?”
3. Alex grins and points the way. Alex: “That way!”
1. Close up of the balloon, the toaster burner blazing under it, with Alex and Fez in the basket.
1. Seagulls glide through a bright sky past a big white cloud.
1. Sitting in the bottom of the basket, Alex holds a sandwich and looks down sadly. Fez sits beside him, worried. Alex: “They said the rhythm in Grandad's heart is wrong.”
2. Looking down on the balloon from above, high over the fields. Alex: “That reminds me of something Grandad said to me once.” Alex: ““Alex”, he said. Everything on Earth is alive. Growing. Changing.”
3. A memory: a hand holds up a green capsicum. Grandad: “Take this capsicum for example.”
1. Years earlier, Grandad and a little Alex stand in a wide vegetable field. Grandad: “A capsicum will change colours three or four times while it grows.”
2. Close up of Grandad, smiling under his moustache. Grandad: “It starts green, then turns red, orange, then black.”
3. Grandad ruffles young Alex's hair. Grandad: “You're growing too, Alex. Growing very quickly.”
4. Grandad kneels and offers the capsicum to young Alex. Grandad: “Right now, you're like this capsicum, green with all the colours in front of you.”
1. Alex and Fez sit in the basket. Alex smiles a little as he eats his sandwich. Alex: “He said he could have grown any fruit, but he liked capsicums.” Alex: “Now, I sorta like them too.”
2. Alex jumps up and leans over the edge of the basket, grinning. Alex shouts: “Fez, look!”
3. Alex points down at a farmhouse with a windmill among green fields and mountains. Alex shouts: “We're here!”
1. Fez leaps from the basket holding a rope; his screen reads 'Weeee...'. Fez: “Weeee...”
2. Fez lands on the grass and hauls the balloon down by its rope.
1. Alex climbs out of the landed basket, grinning. Alex shouts: “Yes! We made it!”
2. Alex throws his arms wide by the farmhouse porch. Fez's screen reads 'Cool'. Alex shouts: “This is my Grandad's farm!”
1. Fez climbs onto Alex's back. Alex: “Jump on buddy.”
2. Alex carries Fez past the farmhouse. Beside them, a memory: Grandad carrying a young Alex piggyback. Alex: “I remember the first time I came here.” Alex: “I jumped on his back and he took me this way.”
3. Alex with Fez on his back, beside the memory of Grandad smiling with young Alex on his shoulders. Alex: “He said to me...” Grandad: “Alex my boy, I'm taking you some where secret and extra special.”
4. Grandad carries young Alex towards a huge tree, the farm behind them. Grandad: “In fact, I haven't taken a single soul up here yet. You're the first.”
1. Young Alex, on Grandad's back, gasps as Grandad points ahead. Grandad: “I made something for you.”
2. From behind, Grandad points up into the giant tree with young Alex on his back. Grandad shouts: “Check it out!”
1. A wooden treehouse high in the tree. Young Alex stands in its doorway, amazed. Alex: “This is...”
2. Young Alex sits in a tyre swing, grinning. Alex: “The coolest...”
3. Young Alex climbs the rope ladder. Alex: “Thing...”
4. Young Alex leaps with joy, fists in the air. Alex shouts: “Ever!”
1. Grandad sits on the grass under the big tree beside a wooden chest. Young Alex sits facing him. Grandad: “What's inside this chest is very special, Alex.”
2. Grandad's hand lifts the lid of the chest. Grandad: “The book inside is the same as my father read to me.”
3. Back in the present, Alex kneels by the open chest holding up a red book. Fez cheers. Alex: “It's called ‘The Bravest Knight’.” Alex: “It's got sword fighting, magic, heroes, villains and it's so, so, cool!”
1. Alex's hand rests on the book's cover, 'The Bravest Knight', with a knight on it. Alex: “He would read it to me every time I visited.” Alex: “I hope he's ok. *sob* *sob* *sob*”
2. Fez's metal hand rests gently on Alex's hand.
3. Alex wipes his tears and smiles at Fez, holding the book. Alex: “Sniff sniff. Thanks Fez, I think it's time.” Alex: “Let's go visit Grandad.”
1. The balloon has landed on the roof of the General Hospital, Fez waiting beside it.
2. Inside, a nurse with a clipboard points Alex down the corridor towards the waiting room.
3. Alex stands nervously in a doorway, holding the book.
1. In a hospital room, Grandad lies in bed hooked up to a heart monitor. Alex stands in the foreground. Sound effect: Beep beep, beep beep
2. Alex smiles and opens his backpack. Sound effect: Beep
3. Alex pulls out 'The Bravest Knight'. Sound effect: Beep beep
4. Grandad opens his eyes on the pillow. Sound effect: Beep beep
5. Grandad smiles and reaches out a hand. Sound effect: Beep beep
1. Alex cuddles up beside Grandad on the hospital bed as Grandad reads him the book, smiling. Sound effect: Beep beep, beep beep Narration: “Fin-”
1. The back cover: blue sky and a balloon rope, with the Guardian Comics shield logo. Narration: “A story about a boy, his robot best friend and the adventures they share together.”
The end of

Alex & Fez, Issue 3

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Alex & Fez, Issue 3